Connor Storrie made his debut as host on Saturday Night Live during Season 51 Episode 13, earning a solid 4-star rating. With his unique charisma and a passionate fanbase from Heated Rivalry, he captivated the audience. Photo: Will Heath/NBC. Jacob Tierney announced that filming for season two of Heated Rivalry will commence in August.
If you’re reading this, you likely already know who Connor Storrie is. It seems like Storrie is doing Saturday Night Live a favor by hosting, rather than the other way around. As a prominent figure in the realm of gay hockey-themed entertainment — I mean, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s rapid rise to fame has garnered him a dedicated following of enthusiastic women. If he’s appearing as a first-time host, you can bet they’ll be tuning in. The excitement caught me off guard: I received a suggested Instagram post for a bar on the Upper East Side hosting an SNL viewing party; even the quirky shop I worked at in Chicago back in 2018 shared a carousel post about Connor Storrie hosting SNL. Connor Storrie made his ‘SNL’ hosting debut on Feb. 28.
There’s a solid reason for that. With a background in clowning and training at The Groundlings, he seems well-prepared for the role of host. Additionally, he is quite diligent. The gruff Russian accent he adopted for his character Ilya Rozanov was so convincing that many, or perhaps just me, were taken aback when he switched to an American accent during interviews. As the episode began, the focus shifted from whether he would be an effective host to how the show would leverage his diverse talents. Storrie even made light of some graphic moments in ‘Heated Rivalry’ during his opening monologue.
Naturally, the relevant context is essential. Following the announcement of U.S. military actions against Iran on Saturday morning, the atmosphere was grim, to put it mildly. The show addresses this situation as effectively as possible in the cold open, featuring a dual monologue from James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Trump and Colin Jost’s depiction of Pete Hegseth. For a segment produced in just one day, it effectively conveys the confusion surrounding the news, highlighting the casual, thoughtless cruelty of the administration. Notably, Connor Storrie has also graced the SNL stage alongside Williams and introduced Mumford and Sons.
It’s a bit frustrating, as the sentiment is somewhat diminished by the appearance of two players from the U.S. men’s hockey team who join Storrie onstage at the conclusion of the monologue, having just celebrated their Olympic victory with FBI director Kash Patel. Their presence is somewhat softened by the addition of members from the U.S. women’s team, but prior to the hockey players’ arrival, Storrie’s monologue is both charming and humorous. He shares the sole family-friendly moment from Heated Rivalry (a brief clip of Ilya saying “Okay”), and then reflects on his surprise at achieving fame, ultimately turning to a close-up camera to assert that it was indeed his destiny. He navigates between these two modes with both confidence and grace. Throughout the episode, Storrie maintains the ease of a cast member, portraying a variety of relatable characters — the jock, the class clown, the office guy — and he does so effectively, showcasing strong delivery and expressiveness.
The episode had its moments of sluggishness, particularly with the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch, and the leg-lengthening bit lost its momentum rather quickly. Nevertheless, Connor Storrie’s energetic presence and positive demeanor contributed to a fun-filled episode. Williams also made an appearance in a sketch during Storrie’s ‘SNL’ episode.
Here are the key points to note:
Connor Storrie on the Ice
Experiencing rejection during a public proposal is tough enough, but for Casper (Tommy Brennan) and Candace (Veronika Slowikowska), the situation becomes even more awkward with a group of guys (Storrie, Mikey Day, Ben Marshall) joyfully skating around on an ice rink. The concept itself is amusing, and it’s entertaining to see Brennan’s character get so sidetracked that he ultimately decides to join in. However, the highlight is Storrie’s exuberant delivery of lines such as, “God, I love being in my forties.” The twist revealing that Storrie’s character is Kendrick Lamar’s producer is presented with such enthusiasm by Storrie that it genuinely caught me off guard and made me laugh. Hudson Williams also appears as one of the cheerful skaters, a delightful reference to his real-life friendship with Storrie, who has performed on SNL with Williams.
Guiding the Awesome Student
After tutoring the most popular student at school, BJ (Connor Storrie), high school geek Dirkus (Marshall) receives an apology and — even better — an invitation to join the cool kids’ lunch table. Storrie’s character realizes his error after Dirkus performs a thank-you song. Marshall delivers it with such fervor that it makes you want to secure your windows, while Storrie’s expression is filled with a deep regret that’s tough to shake off. Ashley Padilla and James Austin Johnson also make appearances as Dirkus’ parents, managing to win BJ over despite their own eccentricities. There’s much to appreciate here, including witty lines like, “You were merely trying to express yourself and chase greatness. And as Timothee Chalamet recently demonstrated, that’s trendy now.” Additionally, “You can still be a baddie, even if you’re a little quirky” is delivered perfectly. Connor Storrie has also showcased his talent on SNL alongside Williams.
Saturday Night News
The jokes from the Weekend Updates desk range from decent to quite good, particularly given that some were crafted under pressure. However, the more captivating elements are the character profiles, such as Veronika Slowikowska’s charming maid of honor who discusses current events.
In terms of the Update desk, Sarah Sherman shines as Punch the Monkey’s inattentive (and possibly Long Island-born?) mother, truly stealing the spotlight. The monkey suit adorned with a bikini, combined with Sherman oscillating between teasing the audience (“you shuh up!”) and trying to charm Colin Jost with a high-pitched croak, kept me laughing throughout. Marcello Hernandez makes an appearance as Punch, clinging to a massive stuffed animal and all. Connor Storrie also graced the SNL stage alongside Williams and introduced Mumford and Sons.
Connor Storrie’s Workplace Dance
Boosting workplace morale can be as simple as an office dance, reminiscent of “Severance,” where external concerns fade away. Connor Storrie passionately advocates for this dance, yet the true highlight of the sketch lies in its ensemble cast. Some of my favorite moments feature Andrew Dismukes maintaining his crossed leg even after his chair gives way, and Sarah Sherman’s character coming to the realization that she no longer needs to relieve herself out the window. Additionally, James Austin Johnson portrays an asthmatic nerd who overheats when his glasses are removed, while Kenan Thompson’s subtle alcoholic character adds an extra layer of humor. Storrie even made light of graphic scenes in ‘Heated Rivalry’ during his monologue.
Exotic dancer
Finally, Storrie unleashes his Russian accent in this skit featuring a bachelorette party stripper who meets an unfortunate fate when hit by a car en route. This might just be the highlight of the evening, likely because it taps into one of Storrie’s established clown personas. He enters the scene writhing in agony, his body bending in ways that defy logic. The women are less than impressed; Padilla’s character attempts to feel attracted, but the blood complicates things (and his crawl over to her using a toilet plumber doesn’t help either). Storrie’s movements are both bizarre and captivating, making it difficult to look away. By the sketch’s conclusion, my notes simply read, “butt is up.” Storrie even joked about graphic scenes in ‘Heated Rivalry’ during his monologue.
• The sketch inspired by Bridgerton felt somewhat monotonous, which is surprising since it seems like it should translate well in theory. Nevertheless, I found joy in watching Storrie and Day elegantly remove their gloves one finger at a time, along with that adorable little dog paw. Connor Storrie showcased his talent on SNL alongside Williams and introduced Mumford and Sons.
• Observers online pointed out that Connor Storrie’s zipper was undone during the “Office Dance” sketch. While it might have been a mere mishap, could it also have been a nod to the online audience? Interestingly, Storrie sported leopard-print underwear during the performance.
• In the “Ice Skating” sketch, Connor Storrie showcases two forms of transport—airplane and train—highlighting the complexity of human nature. He made his ‘SNL’ hosting debut on Feb. 28.
• Connor Storrie made a memorable appearance alongside Williams during “Ice Skating,” introducing Mumford and Sons, which felt like a perfect moment for a cameo. While I enjoyed seeing him (and, of course, I always support Wasians in the arts), I also valued the opportunity for Storrie to shine on his own. However, I would have loved to attend the afterparty.
• I really wish the “Car Song” hadn’t been omitted due to time constraints! In this piece, Veronika Slowikowska and Jane Wickline humorously tackle the common issue of exiting an Uber now that car doors lack traditional handles. The line “Stop making cars hard” is both amusing and undeniably true. I appreciated how it took a bizarre turn with the two confronting the individual responsible for the change in car door handles, portrayed by the recently debuted Connor Storrie.
• Regarding the segments that were cut for time, it’s probably for the best that the “Tourette’s” pre-tape didn’t air. While I understand it aimed to satirize celebrities who justify their poor actions by claiming it’s due to Tourette’s, the unclear premise seemed to inadvertently mock those with the condition (even if that wasn’t the intention). Connor Storrie made his ‘SNL’ hosting debut on Feb. 28.
• Amidst the Weekend Update R-word joke, the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch that essentially revolved around “this guy’s accent is amusing,” and Mumford and Sons performing as the musical guest, 2012 feels like a distant memory. It’s not a time I wish to revisit. That year, I donned a blazer with jeans for my cousin’s wedding and could only discuss South Park.
